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Electronic medical records can house patient information gathered over time and at multiple sites, thus they have the potential to increase continuity of care and improve service delivery in a multiclinic system. The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene implemented an electronic medical record system in its 10 sexually transmitted disease clinics during 2004 and 2005. We examine the use of real-time electronic medical record data analyses to evaluate clinical services or program activities and present 3 examples of such analyses that have led to program improvements. Analyses of electronic medical record data have produced changes in clinical practice that in turn have resulted in more effective staff use, increased disease detection, and increased clinic capacity. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
Details
Health care;
Electronic health records;
Risk factors;
Gonorrhea;
Patient safety;
Clinics;
Drug use;
Public health;
Network computers;
Charts;
Substance abuse treatment;
Decision support systems;
Risk assessment;
Sexually transmitted diseases--STD;
Condoms;
Continuity of care;
Chlamydia;
Laboratories;
Physicians;
Syphilis;
Medical referrals;
Medical tests;
Hospitals;
Clinical decision making;
Hepatitis;
Disease transmission;
Disease detection;
Mental health;
Mental health services;
Data;
Patient information;
Clinical medicine;
Health education;
Medical decision making;
Information technology;
Multiple sites;
Computerized medical records